Cleanup day planned for Nashua playground, possibly 'Tot Lot'

NASHUA — With so much emphasis being placed on Nashua’s future Legacy Playground, residents are rallying together to make sure two existing play structures in the city receive some attention.

Paul Shea, a former candidate for the Nashua Board of Aldermen, is spearheading a cleanup day for Sargent Avenue Playground, and possibly the Salem Street Tot Lot, if enough volunteers step forward. “Many hands make light work,” said Shea, adding everyone is welcome to participate in the cleanup efforts that will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 29 at the Sargent Avenue Playground.

According to Shea, the playground is heavily utilized. Shea, founder of the online Nashua Civic Sounding Board, said a member recently posted photos of some equipment problems at the local playground.

When the issues were brought to the attention of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, Shea said the problems — including loose clasps on the equipment and a broken bench — were quickly fixed.

“There is still more to be done,” said Shea, noting the Parks and Recreation Department has offered to provide volunteers with trash bags, wood chips, rakes and paint to clean up the Sargent Avenue Playground.

Currently, there is graffiti on some of the play equipment, and the mulch underneath the swings is nearly gone, according to Shea.

During cleanup day later this month, volunteers will be painting the playground equipment, painting a fence, laying mulch and cleaning up trash.

If there are enough helpers, Shea said the group will separate to also spruce up the Salem Street Tot Lot.

“We will spread out our resources,” he said, explaining the tot lot needs new paint on its benches, and there is also significant landscaping work that needs to be addressed. There are several problem areas where weeds are overtaking the grounds, said Shea.

The upcoming cleanup project is a spinoff of last year’s successful neighborhood cleanup initiative at Fields Grove Park, according to Shea. Anyone interested in participating in the cleanup is asked to meet at the Sargent Avenue Playground at 9 a.m. on June 29. Volunteers should bring gloves, and a rake or flat shovel if possible. Shea is hopeful for more than 25 volunteers.